Hong Kong

It’s a bit of a standing joke in our circles that a few years of procrastination was brought to a timely end by that well-known film and TV actor Ian McShane. You see, whilst enduring a wintry spell in Nottingham, England, we had taken to watching repeats of the series Lovejoy on day-time TV. Not a big fan of watching television during the day we nevertheless acquiesced and settled in, we were glad we did as one such episode came up trumps. more ...

My name is Mary Tod. For thirty years I worked in the information technology and consulting industries in various roles including marketing, sales and senior management. Now, I am obsessed with writing historical fiction and being an expat is the reason for that change. I am happily married and have two adult children.

Where, when and why did you move abroad?

Summer 2004 – the summer that changed my life. In July of that year, my husband’s company asked him to consider a three-year assignment to Hong Kong. We hesitated only long enough to consult with our children and mothers then plunged into planning and moving, riding the waves of fantasy and euphoria for the next few months. Everything seemed full of possibilities. more ...

Angelina Draper, life long expat born in what was Jugoslavia to an Irish mother and Jugoslav father. First an expat child, then an expat in my own right and now an expat wife. So far I've lived in 26 homes on three continents, seven countries and eleven cities.

Where, when and why did you move abroad?

This time I moved to Hong Kong because of my husband's work. An opportunity arose for him at the same time we were considering starting a family, so we thought a few years in Asia would be a nice way to spend what I have nicknamed my maternity leave. more ...

If you've never been to a wet market in Hong Kong, you are more than welcome to tag along with me. Loosely translated, a wet market is a catch-all phrase describing any open air market offering fresh produce, seafood, meat, and fowl, among other exotic-to-me delicacies. Fresh, as in the fish are still swimming and the ducks are still quacking. If you're with me, you won't be around when the swimming and quacking, not to mention chirping or grunting, comes to an abrupt end. No. We pay for our most boring tropical fruit purchase and walk quickly away, turning around only when we hear "gweilo faan wai" being called out, which I believe is Cantonese for white lady with the squeamish stomach. more ...

My husband and I moved from NYC to Singapore for his business. At the end of 2012, after 4 years in Singapore, his company moved us to Hong Kong. Our fist expat posting was in Tokyo, Japan from 2001 – 2004. more ...

My name is Hollie, and I am a Native English Teacher from the East Coast of Canada. I love books, writing, music, art and travel. I am a grown woman, yet I harbor an unhealthy obsession for Harry Potter. My husband and I are very proud of our East Coast Canadian roots. I am currently being whipped into shape, courtesy of my Muay Thai boxing instructors! And of course, I love teaching (especially my favourite subject, English).

Where, when and why did you move abroad?

My husband and I decided to make the frightening leap in 2010. It was our first time abroad. He had enjoyed six years of teaching full-time in Canada, but I was struggling to secure a full-time post. more ...

I'm an American 'serial expat' who loves people-watching, exploring historic places, and learning something new everyday. All past-times perfectly suited to expat life. We have lived in Mainland China, Holland (briefly), England and are now based in Hong Kong. I am a lawyer by training, but am currently taking time off from paid employment to raise our two young children.

Where, when and why did you move abroad?

We moved abroad in 2005 when offered the opportunity by my husband's company. At the time, I was lucky enough to have an employer who allowed me to continue working remotely. more ...

My name is Shannon Young. I’m an American writer and teacher currently living in Hong Kong. I love to read, write and spy on other people’s books on the train.

My work has appeared on numerous expat websites, on an iPhone travel app, and in the Hong Kong Women in Publishing Society’s annual publication. I’m the author a mini travel memoir called The Olympics Beat, and I write a blog called A Kindle in Hong Kong. more ...